“LESSONS need to be learned” from the handling of the investigation into Nicola Bulley’s disappearance, according to Dorset’s former police and crime commissioner.

Martyn Underhill, a former detective and PCC between 2012 and 2021, said the police risked ‘undermining’ the hard work of officers as a result of a ‘flawed media strategy’ that he suggested was misogynistic.

Speaking to the Echo, Mr Underhill said the investigation had been ‘dragged into a discussion around victim blaming’ after Lancashire Police revealed Ms Bulley had suffered "significant issues with alcohol" which were "brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause".

He said: “I’ve worked on numerous high profile investigations and you either release that information right at the beginning of the investigation or not at all. If it had been released on day one it would have changed the dynamic of the media coverage but, more importantly, there are ways of talking about the issues that don’t involve throwing a grenade in.

“You should never go into so much detail because we’re now having a national discussion about victim blaming.

“I think it was misogynistic (to reveal the information). I am a 64-year-old man and if I had intimate male health issues then would they be going into as much detail about those issues?”

Mr Underhill, who lectures in criminology at Bournemouth University, said Lancashire Police had ‘left a void’ in coverage when they should have been ‘owning the narrative’ with regular press conferences.

He said: “Whoever was responsible for releasing that information has made a flawed decision. Lancashire Police are now on the front pages for all the wrong reason and it is distracting from the real issue - where is Nicola and what has happened to her?”

The former detective, who worked on the investigation into the disappearance and murder of Sarah Payne in 2000, said Lancashire Police needed to ‘embrace’ an external investigation that would identify best practices that had gone under the radar as well as to help them learn from mistakes.

He said: “The police have needed to own the narrative but they haven’t and that is showing. Mistakes have been made and this is going to run and run. (Lancashire Police) need to accept advice from another force with experience of handling high-profile missing person cases.”

Ms Bulley was last seen at 9.10am on 27 January taking her usual route with her springer spaniel Willow, alongside the River Wyre.

Her phone, still connected to a work call, was found just over 20 minutes later on a bench overlooking the riverbank, with her dog running loose.